Supreme Court Sides With Pang Suspect In Seattle Arson Won’t Face Murder Trial For Four Deaths

Tue., Dec. 16, 1997

Associated Press

The Supreme Court refused Monday to let Washington state prosecute on murder charges a man who fled to Brazil after a blaze suspected to be arson killed four firefighters.

The court, without comment, turned away Washington authorities’ argument that the murder prosecution should be allowed even though a Brazilian court allowed Martin Pang’s extradition only on an arson charge.

“We’re relieved that the law finally prevailed and that politics did not,” Pang attorney John Henry Browne said at a mid-morning news conference. “The law in this case … has been crystal clear in our favor.”

But King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng said Pang may not be free of murder charges yet.

Maleng said he would seek to have the murder charges severed from the arson charge at a Friday hearing, but would oppose any motion to dismiss them out-right.

He would not say whether prosecutors were contemplating an attempt to re-file the murder charges. Under extradition law, Pang could be released and given freedom to seek residence in another country, and then arrested and charged 30 days later if he were still in this country.

Brown said he did not expect that kind of development, and Maleng said he knew of no case in which that procedure had been followed, although lawyers raised the possibility in a brief to the Supreme Court.

Four firefighters were killed Jan. 5, 1995, while battling a blaze at a Seattle frozen-food processing warehouse owned by the parents of Martin Shaw Pang. Authorities said the fire was caused by arson and that Pang had told several people he wanted to burn down the warehouse, which was insured.

A warrant was issued for Pang’s arrest, and he fled to Brazil. He was charged with one count of first-degree arson and four counts of first-degree murder.

Arson carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, but the standard state sentencing range is about two years - 21 to 27 months. The minimum prison term for murder is 20 years and the maximum is life.

Pang was arrested in Rio de Janeiro, and U.S. authorities asked Brazil to return him to this country.

In December 1995, Brazil’s highest court authorized his return to face the arson charge but not the murder charge. That court later denied a U.S. request to reconsider, and other Brazilian authorities refused to intervene.

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